So do I, this division almost commands we have a team that can get down and dirty in the mud. But wheres the balance? Maybe if some of our 'stars' were nurtured into the system rather than signed into it this team might not have so many issues when they are on the offensive. Homegrown talent comes in many sizes, shapes and styles.

Agreed completely. UFA signings rarely, if ever, have that drive that the homegrown players seem to have. Bring a kid up through the ranks and show your faith in him, and he'll play his ass off for you as long as he can. Hard to find with hired guns. Not to mention the impact it can have on building cohesion and chemistry in the organization.

Agreed completely. UFA signings rarely, if ever, have that drive that the homegrown players seem to have. Bring a kid up through the ranks and show your faith in him, and he'll play his ass off for you as long as he can. Hard to find with hired guns. Not to mention the impact it can have on building cohesion and chemistry in the organization.

How many FA's have we seen in the last 14 years? How do they do their first season? Always takes time for every FA to get acclimated, sometimes a full season, sometimes they never get it.

Yet every player we trade has an immediate impact on that teams lineup

My fear is that the only reason he was picked #10 in that draft was exactly because of that incident. I know, I know, that seems so unbelievable right?

you want to know the EXACT incident that lead to that pick...November 19, 1998. That was the night that matt johnson suckerpunched jeff beukeboom. and to this day, 14+ years later the franchise has yet to find a suitable replacement and we've been missing THAT kind of defensemen for 14 years.

wise pick or not...mcilrath was picked to be the guy that finally gives us that kind of dman back.

you want to know the EXACT incident that lead to that pick...November 19, 1998. That was the night that matt johnson suckerpunched jeff beukeboom. and to this day, 14+ years later the franchise has yet to find a suitable replacement and we've been missing THAT kind of defensemen for 14 years.

wise pick or not...mcilrath was picked to be the guy that finally gives us that kind of dman back.

How many teams have a Beukeboom in the last ten years? Probably half a dozen.

Why why why do you and other just not stop with the single minded comments ? You do know mcD and Kreider are my two favorite players right? You do know I love hockey not mma I just know hockey is played tuff and until fighting is banished you need tuff guys ,, stop trying to bury me like the rest and get to know me

Not simply because you made reference, but more because you make an excellent point. If and I mean IF, Dylan evolves into a poor man's Chara, I'd take him as a career Ranger. No hesitation.

The whole Bruins back line is tough to play against. Starting w/ Chara. That's what will make them a contender for years to come. We lack that element and we need it badly. McDonagh referenced it just the other day. Meanness. As in the Rangers got none of it back there.

Not simply because you made reference, but more because you make an excellent point. If and I mean IF, Dylan evolves into a poor man's Chara, I'd take him as a career Ranger. No hesitation.

The whole Bruins back line is tough to play against. Starting w/ Chara. That's what will make them a contender for years to come. We lack that element and we need it badly. McDonagh referenced it just the other day. Meanness. As in the Rangers got none of it back there.

wait we have Bickel... how about toughness who can actually play for 15 mins a night

Not simply because you made reference, but more because you make an excellent point. If and I mean IF, Dylan evolves into a poor man's Chara, I'd take him as a career Ranger. No hesitation.

The whole Bruins back line is tough to play against. Starting w/ Chara. That's what will make them a contender for years to come. We lack that element and we need it badly. McDonagh referenced it just the other day. Meanness. As in the Rangers got none of it back there.

Yep, it's lacking throughout the line-up actually. Not just on the back-end.

Hoping He and Noreau work out. Also hoping Mashinter can stick for a long while. He has looked good on the 4th line. Good hands, not overly fast but knows his role is to work the puck down low and create chances with his size. Like that addition.

Name one team Beuk played on that didn't have toughness upfront as well as ANOTHER tough Dman on the back end?

One season. 1995, the lockout year. The NY hangover shortened season(that year we were shorthanded more times than any team, and still managed to score the fewest SH goals in the league!) where we were lucky to survive a future talent dynasty in Quebec, then got obliterated against the bigger, deeper Flyers team.

Or like our other prospect, Sammy Noreau, who doesn't fight anymore because everyone is scared of him. If McIlrath picks his spots, his great fighting ability is a big plus. He does scrap at some inopportune times--he's still very young, so it's to be expected--but he also sticks up for his teammates more than any prospect we've had in our system for quite a long time.

When McIlrath is on the ice, guys know not to take liberties with our players, because if they do McIlrath will beat the **** out of them or one of their players.

Honestly, I love the fact that when someone cheap shots our player, McIlrath punishes that guy. Not because I particularly like fighting, but because it allows our players to have more space and be less fearful.

Imagine you are Thomas or Bourque (or St. Croix next year). You have skill, you have speed, but every time you on on the ice, someone is trying to intimidate you so that instead of focusing on making the play, you are focusing on not getting a concussion. Now imagine that every time someone harasses you, there's a guy who will knock their lights out in your defense. Suddenly, you can focus on skating and shooting.

Name one team Beuk played on that didn't have toughness upfront as well as ANOTHER tough Dman on the back end?

One season. 1995, the lockout year. The NY hangover shortened season(that year we were shorthanded more times than any team, and still managed to score the fewest SH goals in the league!) where we were lucky to survive a future talent dynasty in Quebec, then got obliterated against the bigger, deeper Flyers team.

Who did the Rangers have in 1993-94? Kocur? He was just an enforcer. Kypreos, the punching bag who lost every one of his fights until he was knocked out by Vandenbussche and had to retire? Tikkanen was not tough, he was more chippie. Graves was not a fighter, he was tough because he was willing to take the punishment as the garbageman, but didn't intimidate opponents. Messier was the closest thing we had to a tough guy with skill, but he only fought to change the momentum of the game, not to defend others.

Do you remember when for over half a year leading up to his signing, I was obsessively arguing against it, saying that we aren't ready to contend in 2011-12 and he'll be an albatross on the team long term? I was told that I'm not a psychic and that I shouldn't be predicting that around the age of 33 (when players generally start to get worse), he'll no longer be worth the money?

I was told that we need to go for it now because Lundqvist is getting older. Well, he's still getting older, still without the Cup.

Do you remember when for over half a year leading up to his signing, I was obsessively arguing against it, saying that we aren't ready to contend in 2011-12 and he'll be an albatross on the team long term? I was told that I'm not a psychic and that I shouldn't be predicting that around the age of 33 (when players generally start to get worse), he'll no longer be worth the money?

I was told that we need to go for it now because Lundqvist is getting older. Well, he's still getting older, still without the Cup.